England v Sri Lanka: James Anderson's return the only item on selectors' agenda

With James Anderson's fitness the only selection issue ahead of Sunday's squad
announcement for the third Test – a minor one given his omission from the
second Test at Lord's was more precaution than necessity – these are doldrum
days for England's selectors.

Available: James Anderson suffered a side strain at Cardiff which ruled him out of the second TestPhoto: PA

Compared to the ructions going on Down Under, where Simon Katich has lambasted Australia's equivalent for not renewing his central contract, Geoff Miller and his panel have it relatively easy waiting on Anderson's side strain.

James Anderson will be named in the 12, alongside those who played at Lord's, though he is scheduled to test out his intercostals later the same day when he plays for Lancashire in a T20 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Providing there are no repercussions after his "bowl" on Sunday (when did four overs ever constitute a fitness test?), he will be back to lead England's attack at the Rose Bowl on Thursday, probably in place of Steve Finn.

Kevin Pietersen is also scheduled to play T20 for Surrey but the composition of England's squad looks relatively straightforward unless the Rose Bowl pitch, which is situated on well-drained chalky downs, ends up drier than expected.

Unlike some counties, Hampshire has not yet been declared a drought zone, but if conditions are more parched than expected a second spinner, unlikely to be named but most likely James Tredwell or Monty Panesar, could be summoned early next week.

Finn is the most likely to make way for Anderson despite being England's leading wicket taker in the draw at Lord's, thanks to the four he took in Sri Lanka's first innings.

The selection protocols used by Miller and Andy Flower mean Finn would need to have overtaken either Chris Tremlett of Stuart Broad, and not just in a one-off situation, to make the starting line-up.

Broad is vulnerable, having taken just 13 wickets in his past six Tests, but as he has just returned from the disorientating effects of a long injury lay-off, he needs a bit longer to rediscover his old self with the ball.

Of course, Broad might point to his fifty in the first innings at Lord's as being part of the case he offers for selection, but that is an irrelevance. If England are to persist with a four-man attack, as looks likely, the four best wicket-takers must be chosen.

Players often see their worth in a different light to the selectors, and Katich, Australia's doughty opening bat for much of the past decade, is no exception.

Left out of Australia's 25-man squad of centrally-contracted players, Katich held a press conference yesterday and gave the people he felt responsible a verbal roasting.

His tirade, which seemed to be levelled mainly at Australia's selectors and their part-time status, as well as Cricket Australia's management, largely ignored one fact: when you lose the Ashes, as Australia did at home for the first time in 24 years, heads are going to roll, especially one belonging to a 35-year old whose differences with Michael Clarke, the current Test and one-day captain, are well known.

Australia were overwhelmed in the series, which England won 3-1, and need to plan ahead. If there is any doubt how much their cricket has slipped since they whitewashed England 4½ years ago, you need only to compare the current honours list with the one after the 2005 Ashes win.

After that incredible victory, every player received an MBE, with Michael Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher, the captain and coach, receiving the OBE.

This time, it is Andrew Strauss (an MBE six years ago) and Andy Flower who are to receive the OBE, while Alastair Cook, who made 766 runs in the series, is the sole MBE.

The reduction in numbers means that whoever decides these things obviously felt Australia were pants last winter. And if it is obvious to them it must also be obvious to the Australian selectors, which is why they have decided to move on.